Most people give very little consideration to food packaging unless there is a problem with it: poor construction or leakage, for example. However, the way food is packaged not only protects the contents inside, but it can subconsciously influence consumer behavior.

Protection

The main goal of packaging is to protect the contents inside, both during transit to the market and while it’s on display. However, high-quality packaging also sends a subtle message about the quality and safety of the food. That’s why you’ll see such things as single oranges or a banana encased in plastic; it may seem counterintuitive to wrap goods that already have a natural protection built-in, but it gives the perception of cleanliness. This influences consumer behavior in a major way, and so manufacturers spend a great deal of money to get the packaging just right.

Convenience

People are more likely to purchase goods that offer benefits over those that are a hassle to deal with. Convenience relates to everything from portability to freshness. Consumers want products that are sturdy yet easy to open. They also prefer features that keep food fresher longer. An example is a resealable bag. Streamlining how products are packed is an attractive concept to consumers as they often face a lack of storage space in their refrigerators or cupboards.

Another common complaint is inadequate packaging or inappropriate packaging. Think about all the times you’ve had to deal with bulky boxes that were half-filled or flimsy or consisted of layer upon layer of materials serving no practical purpose.

Branding

Good branding is just as important to the consumer as it is to the companies who work so hard to get it right. If you think about it, smart branding allows you to instantly recognize products from companies you’ve grown to trust.

This can sometimes be a drawback from a consumer standpoint. You might notice that newer companies or off-brands sometimes use similar designs, logos, and color schemes as known brands. This is clearly a way of getting people to buy their product.

Creativity

Along with the above elements, a little creativity goes a long way. Unique touches or innovative ideas sell. This includes unique shapes (think of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup bottles), bold colors, and eye-catching graphics. Creative packaging that also provides benefits will send products flying off the shelves.

In the end, it turns out that food packaging, like what we offer at SouthPack, matters almost as much as the product itself.

Plastic packaging has been making our lives easier since its invention in the 1800s. But how did this immensely convenient packaging come about? Here’s a history lesson in plastic packaging.

1862: Plastic made its first appearance at the Great International Exhibition in London, presented by Alexander Parkes. This material, called “Parkesine,” was bio-based and had been derived from cellulose.

Early 1900s: Cellophane was created by Dr. Jacques Brandenberger, a Swiss textile engineer. The invention came about as Dr. Brandenberger was attempting to make clothing stain-resistant through the application of a flexible, clear film.

1930: Scotch Cellulose Tape, renamed Cellophane Tape at a later date, was invented by Richard Drew, an engineer working for 3M. This greatly benefited bakers and grocers, as they were able to keep their packages sealed in a more attractive and easy way.

1933: Saran™ was an accidental discovery by lab worker Ralph Wiley of Dow Chemical. This plastic material found its first use to be providing protection for military equipment, and was later used for the packaging of food.

1946: Earl Silas Tupper worked to create the well-known, highly-convenient plastic packaging we all know as Tupperware. Mr. Tupper chose to promote his polyethylene food containers through housewives who used Tupperware sales as a source of income. The invention of airtight plastic containers is considered among the most notable advances in the history of plastic packaging.

1946: “Stopette,” a deodorant created by Dr. Jules Montenier, brought the spray bottle into the commercial world of plastics. Dr. Montenier created the spray bottle to dispense the deodorant when squeezed by consumers. Stopette was one of the sponsors of the popular program “What’s My Line”, and subsequently brought on a tremendous increase in the use of spray bottles.

1950: Canadians Larry Hansen and Harry Wasylyk are to thank for the modern garbage bag. Originally used commercially in places such as hospitals, this plastic product is found in abundance in virtually any public place you can imagine.

1954: Zipper-seal bags, created by Robert W. Vergobbi, were initially intended for use as pencil bags, but their versatility soon turned them toward food storage. Ziploc bags came about in 1968, and sandwich bags on a roll were later introduced.

1959: The first licensed character lunch box was created by Geuder, Frey, and Paeschke of Wisconsin. The tin box featured Mickey Mouse and a plastic handle. Plastic was used for the whole box in the 1960s.

1960: Sealed Air Corporation engineers Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding brought the world bubble wrap.

1986: Swanson TV Dinners came in microwaveable plastic trays, rather than the aluminum material used since the mid-1950s. These TV dinners were incredibly popular due to post-war fascination with time-saving devices, and the novelty of watching television.

1996: Bagged salad packaging reduced food waste and made buying fresh produce easier.

2000: Yogurt came in flexible plastic tubes for convenient snacking on the go.

2010: Heinz Dip & Squeeze was the first innovation for ketchup packaging in 42 years, allowing customers to choose whether to dispense or dip into the sauce.

Plastic has come a long way! We hope that you feel a little bit more knowledgeable about plastic packaging and its interesting timeline.

There are some aspects of everyday life that we take full advantage of daily, but we really don’t know much about them. This is true for inventions such as the poly bag, which you are probably not familiar with. Here is all the information you need to become the new poly bag expert.

Poly Bag Options

Poly bags (polyethylene bags) are found in abundance in a multitude of industries, and are employed in a great variety of uses. For instance, industries related to clothing, such as sewing goods, apparel, and fabric companies, use poly bags to guard their products against dirt and moisture.

Poly bags are available in many different varieties, including flat poly bags, poly bag tubing, resealable, wicketed, and gusseted poly bags, garment bags, poly film, poly sheeting, and self-sealing bags.

For products that are generally lightweight and have simple protection needs, a poly bag of lighter density will do the trick. For goods that may experience rough handling, or may have greater exposure to damaging elements such as debris, moisture, or dirt, poly bags of a higher density make are recommended. Depending on specific needs, like keeping out moisture and needing an ease of access, resealable poly bags can readily fill both needs.

Bag shape is another aspect to consider when selecting the best bag for your product needs. Flat poly bags are an excellent option to achieve a clear display of goods while maintaining low expenditure. When shape and style are key factors for use, a gusseted or wicketed bag will do a good job.  For businesses that deal in clothing and attire, garment poly bags are perfect for shielding pants, coats, shirts, suits, etc. from the elements, while fitting their shape.  Some companies that turn out vast quantities of product will find that a roll of poly film or tubing best suits their needs.

Perks For Business

Poly bags are easily customizable with your company logo, address, or any other information you would like to include on the bag, not to mention that they are highly versatile in form, size, and function. This fact, paired with the relatively inexpensive cost of buying the bags in bulk, means that your packaging worries have the potential to be addressed in one convenient bundle of poly bags.

Choosing plastic bag packaging comes with an excellent array of benefits that can extend to your clients and the environment as well. It is common knowledge that, in general, households stash plastic bags that have been carried home with purchases from businesses like yours. Once in a home, customers gladly use them for their own needs, and are able to recycle them. Encouraging your customers to recycle their bags is a great choice for the environment, as plastic bags take less energy to make, transport, and recycle than paper bags do. You can even print a recycling reminder right on the bag.

Overall, poly bags do a phenomenal job when it comes to product packaging. The protective qualities keep your products in top shape, while also advertising your goods and business. Throw in a highly versatile nature and low expenditure in bulk, and the poly bag might just be the best packaging option to date.

The food packaging industry has a number of aspects that may not be well-known to the general public, however the general public deserves to know about the materials used to transport and store their food! This is why we have created this short list of commonly asked questions and answers about food packaging. Read on to learn some valuable information about our industry.

1. What does the e-sign signify?

The e-sign found on many food labels is used to inform the consumer that the weight or volume of their chosen product is calculated at an average value. This is due to the fact that the machines that do the actual packaging of the food cannot always be completely accurate. This is especially true of products which are made up of various pieces (like a pizza with assorted toppings). Each product cannot contain the exact same number of pieces, and therefore will vary slightly in weight. The e-sign is used to indicate accepted legal average and margins of the particular product. It is not affiliated with E-numbers or additives in food.

2. What does the packaging really do for my food?

First and foremost, the packaging keeps the product contained, therefore protecting and preserving it against the elements, contamination, and damage. The packaging also functions to identify and describe the product, and allows an easy assessment of tampering. The outer packaging is imperative for transportation and storage of goods in stores and distribution centers.

3. Why so many options for materials in food packaging?

You may wish that your favorite snack came in a bag instead of a box, or vice versa. There are a multitude of food packaging options out there, and many products are found in various shapes and sizes. However, manufacturers of your favorite snack have discovered the material and type of packaging that best fits with their product. This decision is based on product-specific needs, including necessary protection, how it will be distributed, how long it can remain on shelves, and potential effect on the environment.

4. Is my food being affected by its packaging?

The materials surrounding your food serve several purposes, such as, protection and preservation, but must do so without compromising the quality and sanitation of the food itself. As such, materials are selected with health and quality impacts in mind, and this process must take place for each individual food. For instance, if packaging is found to be environmentally friendly and food-safe, but the food itself causes deterioration of the packaging, a different material must be used. Countries have strict food-packaging material policies to ensure health standards are met.

5. How are sterilization and pasteurization different?

When a product is sterilized, like canned foods, the product is heated to a temperature of 120-140◦ Celsius, which eliminates bacteria and their associated spores. This gives sterilized products a shelf-life far surpassing the products which are pasteurized, though vitamins may be lost in the process. Pasteurization does not attempt to destroy all bacteria, but to decrease the amount of viable pathogens.

We hope you learned something new in this article! And for all of your food-packaging needs, don’t forget to use SouthPack!

Practically all products come packaged, meaning the packaging needs to do its job in order for your product to be eye-catching, informative and ultimately purchased by the customer. In order to best appeal to customers, your product packaging ought to exhibit five essential characteristics.

1. Distinguishable

This isn’t about winning a shouting match against all of the other brands on the aisle. Standing out is about creating packaging that is eye-catching, using a point of orientation that effectively influences your buyer—one example of this is something called a “cusp,” a pointy, sharpish shape that functions to trigger emotions such as danger, caution, and fear. Cusps can be seen in logos, or incorporated into outfits of people on products.

2. Simple

The marketing world is full of busy, noisy advertisements, yet potential customers are usually drawn to the calm, modest ones. Using simple, yet elegant designs will convey your information in a way that feels reassuring, making it easy to understand why the product would be a beneficial purchase.

3. Describable

To know if your product packaging is making the impact it ought to, try giving a description to a five-year-old child and see if they can find it in the store. If they can successfully complete this task, you can feel confident that your product packaging is making an iconic connection. This is the kind of marketing that brings the same customers back weekly. The secret is a distinctive brand mark—it’s easy to see, recognize, and snatch off the shelf.

4. Sentimental

Actions are preceded by emotions. This is why ads or commercials that connect to your emotions are so effective.  Successful advertisements touch our hearts, whether they make us feel happy, nostalgic, sad, or even afraid. Product packaging should promote the emotion you want the viewer to feel, so that they feel inclined to buy your merchandise.

5. Iconic

Truly masterful product packaging features visual aspects that can be reused in each marketing aspect of the product. To create this iconic image, utilize shapes, typography, colors, and accents that will trigger your brand in the mind of the customer. As your customers engage with your product and begin to form emotional responses to these trademark aspects of your brand, it will become a pattern of response and recognition.

Product packaging options are endless and ever-evolving. As you implement plans to best showcase your product, keep these points in mind for a brand that communicates effectively with your customers for a lifetime.

In 1978, an inventor by the name of Tomas Jake Lunsford took out a patent on a new package design called the Clamshell, a type of plastic blister packaging. Plastic blister packaging is pre-formed, plastic packaging, mostly used for pharmaceuticals, office supplies, electronics, hardware, cosmetics, etc. The primary piece of any blister packaging is the cavity, that is usually contoured in the exact shape and size of the item that is being packaged. Tomas Jake Lunsford built upon this idea, and created a more modern, hinged blister packaging. A single sheet of plastic forms a bowl-shaped top and bottom, with a thin, flexible hinge connecting the two, creating a durable shell.  The name, “Clamshell”, was adopted from its sea-faring counterpart, to which it bears more than a passing resemblance. Clamshell packaging is popular due to its multi-purpose use and protection against contamination, which is often present in store and restaurant storage areas. It has been a universal choice among manufacturers and restaurateurs for decades, because of its ability to clearly display products while minimizing theft and damage.

Clamshells also decrease shipping costs and reduce the need for storage space, as they nest easily inside each other.  In the late 2000s, due to concerns that Clamshell packaging was creating excessive plastic waste, the packaging industry began producing more sustainable alternatives for plastic blister packaging, which kept the beneficial design that manufacturers love. In addition to protecting the environment, sustainable products also have the added benefit of being a better base for advertising graphics, in comparison to the traditional plastics.

Most Clamshell packaging comes with self-locking tabs, snaps, or something called a friction fit.  When securely sealed with heat, plastic Clamshell containers are tamper-resistant.  While intentionally difficult to open at times, you can rest easy knowing that your products will be safe.

With a variety of sizing for anything from thumbtacks to sandwiches, Clamshells are a favorite of several businesses. Clamshell packaging not only protects your products, but it can also be used as an alternative to Tupperware, carryout containers, and baskets. A popular example can be seen in traditional strawberry and other supermarket containers. Clamshell packaging can be seen in many stores, each using the container in a way that showcases its inventive and multi–purpose uses.

If you are looking for new packaging for your business, the Clamshell has revolutionized store packaging. It displays your product, keeps it safe, and is very cost effective; three perfect reasons to try out SouthPack Clamshell packaging today!